Dr. S.W. Seneviratne

Senior Lecturer
PhD (Calgary), MSc(AIT), BSc Eng(Hons) (Ruhuna)

Contact info

+94-(0)91-2245765 ~ 67 Ext 2232
Mobile: +94-(0)76-0682167
samanthi@cee.ruh.ac.lk
Room CE 204

Specialization

  • Project Management

Educational Qualifications

  • PhD in Civil Engineering / Project Management (2014) – University of Calgary, Canada
  • M.Sc. in Urban Environmental Management (2008) – Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
  • B.Sc.Eng.(Hons) in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2006) – University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Professional Qualifications

  • Senior Lecturer G II, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna (March 2018- Present)
  • Independent Researcher/ Journal paper reviewer (2015-2017)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2014), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Caanda
  • Teaching/ Research Assistant (2010-2014), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
  • Research Associate (2009) – Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Management Applications (SEA-UEMA) Project, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
  • Master Student (2007-2008), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
  • Lecturer (2006), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Academic Awards and Scholarships

  • Recipient of the Alberta Motor Association Graduate Scholarship, University of Calgary, Canada (2013)
  • Recipient of the Bob McTague Graduate Award in Project Management, University of Calgary, Canada (2013)
  • Calgary Emergency Management Agency funding for PhD studies, University of Calgary, Canada (2010-2014)
  • Schulich Student Activity Fund to attend the International Conference on Disaster Management, Kumamoto, Japan, (2012)
  • Government of Netherlands scholarship for Master’s studies, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, (2007 – 2008)

Memberships

  • Associate member of IESL

Research Interests

  • Advanced Project Management
  • Risk Modelling
  • Disaster Mitigation
  • Heritage Conservation

Teaching Areas

  • Construction Management
  • Construction Processes and Technology
  • Building Services Engineering

Other involvement

  • Trial Editor, Natural Hazards Review, ASCE
  • Reviewer , International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Elsevier
  • Symposium Secretary and Publication Chair – ACEPS 2019
  • Assistant Secretary – RACEE (August 2018 –Present)
  • Senior Treasurer – CEES (July 2018- Present)
  • Convener –ICC (February 2019 –Present)

Publications

  •    S.W.  Seneviratne, née Durage

Journals:

  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C., and Ruwanpura, J.Y. (2017). Tornado mitigation network analysis and simulation, International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 8(5), 478-493.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C., and Ruwanpura, J.Y. (2016). Decision analysis for tornado warning and evacuation, Natural Hazards Review, 17 (1): -1–1.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wiraisnghe, S.C., Ruwanpura, J.Y., Kattan, L. and Mashall, S. (2015). Canadian prairie tornadoes – Preplanning for warning issuance and initiation of protective measures, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 14, 556-563.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Kattan, L., Wirasinghe, S.C., and Ruwanpura, J.Y. (2014). Evacuation behaviour of households and drivers during a tornado” Natural Hazards, 71, 1495-1517.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C. and Ruwanpura, J.Y. (2013). Comparison of the Canadian and US tornado detection and warning systems, Natural Hazards, 66, 117-137.
  • Wickramaratne, S., Ruwanpura, J.Y., Ranasinghe, U., Seneviratne, S.W., Adikariwattage, V., and Wirasinghe , S.C. (2012). Ranking of natural disasters in Sri Lanka for mitigation planning, International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 3, 115-132.

Conference Proceedings: 

  • De Silva, R.A.S.S., Seneviratne, S.W., Appuhamy, J.M.R.S. (2020). Design and Construction Challenges of Retrofitting and Adaptive Reuse of Old Buildings in Galle Fort , IESL 114th Annual Sessions 2020 (Under Review).
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S. C., Ruwanpura, J.Y., and Kattan, L.(2014). Tornado Mitigation in the Canadian Prairie Region, Proceedings of the 10th International Conference of the International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction, Indiana, United States, May 2014, 49-55.
  • Wirasinghe, S.C., Caldera, H.J., Seneviratne, S. W. and Ruwanpura, J.Y., (2013). Preliminary Analysis and Classification of Natural Disasters, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the International Institute for Infrastructure, Renewal and Reconstruction, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, July 2013,
  • Seneviratne, W.,  Ruwanpura,  J.Y., and Wirasinghe,  S.C. (2012). Analysis of the Tornado Detection, Warning and Communication System in Canada, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference of the International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction, Kumamoto, Japan,  August 2012. CDROM file B7-3.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Ruwanpura, J.Y.,and Wirasinghe, S.C. (2011). Application of Network Modeling for Fire Fighting Operations –  Response Time Minimization, Proceedings of the International Conference on Building Resilience, International Institute for Infrastructure Renewal and Reconstruction, Kandalama, Sri Lanka, July 2011, 11p. 

Panel Reviewed Papers:

  • Seneviratne,S.W., Wirasinghe,S.C., and Ruwanpura,J.Y., An Introduction to False Tornado Warnings in Canada, World Engineering Forum ‐ Sustainable Construction for People, WFEO and IZS, Ljubljana, Slovenia, September 2012, CDROM 265‐272.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Ruwanpura, J.Y., and Wirasinghe, S.C.. Preliminary Analysis of the Decision-Making and Communication Network for Tornado Warning and Evacuation in Canada, WFEO Committee on Disaster Risk Management Panel Session, World Engineers’ Convention 2011, Geneva, Switzerland, September 2011, 50-60.
  • Seneviratne, S.W. and Perera, R.(2009). Multidisciplinary and Multi-stakeholder Approach for Coastal Setback Delineation in Sri Lanka, Proceedings of the International Conference on Accommodating Natural Hazards and Disasters in Social & Economic Infrastructure Development’ Ahungalla, Sri Lanka. July 2009.
  • Seneviratne S.W., Inoka R., Suraweera, P., Arunashanthi, D., and Pilapitiya, S. (2006). Optimization of a Compost Plant for Weligama Urban Council, Sri Lanka, IESL Young Members’ Session, Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, August 2006. 

Presentations: 

  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C. (2019). An Analytical Model to Locate Emergency Services, 16th Academic Sessions & 15th Vice Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony – 2019, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C. and Ruwanpura, J.Y. (2015). Mitigation of the Impact of Tornadoes in the Canadian Prairies, 12th Annual Symposium, Canadian Risk and Hazards Network, Calgary Canada, November 2015.
  • Wirasinghe, S.C. (Presenter) and Seneviratne, S.W. (2015). Early Warning and Risk Mitigation Systems, Ready at a Moment’s Notice Conference, Van Horne Institute, Calgary, Canada, April 2015.
  • Wirasinghe, S.C. (Presenter) Saidi, S. and Seneviratne, S.W. (2013). Transportation and Natural Disaster Research at the Department of Civil Engineering,  City of Calgary Society of Professional Engineers (CCSPE) Event, Calgary, Canada, May 2013.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C. and Ruwanpura, J.Y. (2011). Evacuation Strategies for Tornadoes, Three-University Annual Conference, Lake Louise, Canada, July 2011.
  • Seneviratne, S.W., Ruwanpura, J.Y. and Wirasinghe, S.C. (2010). A Preliminary Network on Tornado Warning for Alberta. Proceedings of the International Conference on Disaster Management, International Institute for Infrastructure Renewal and Reconstruction (IIIRR), Hawaii, USA, November 2010.
  • Seneviratne, S.W. (2010). Evacuation Strategies for Tornadoes, Mini-Symposium, International Institute for Infrastructure, Renewal and Reconstruction (IIIRR), University of Calgary, Canada, February 2010.

 

Poster Presentations:

  • Shayan M.N.M., Seneviratne S.W. (2019). Analysis of the Coastal Setback Policy in Sri Lanka, International Conference on ‘Social Cultural nexus of S&T Development’, Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 2019.
  • Seneviratne, S.W. Tornado Impact Mitigation for Calgary, University of Calgary-Community Research Engagement Poster Session, Meeting of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, Calgary, April 2013.